Do you know where your gems come from? Traceability in the world of coloured gemstones is notoriously low, but for magpies with a conscience there are two new events that will allow you buy loose gems from ethical suppliers who can tell you exactly where their gems were mined, and how.

The UK Ethical Gem Fair and the Bristol Gem Fair is a collaboration between ethical gemstone dealers Nineteen48, Fair Trade Gemstones and Capricorn Gems, each of which is renown in the jewellery world for stringent sourcing practices.

The first event, The UK Ethical Gem Fair, will take place at a venue in London’s Hatton Garden on August 29^th & 30^th, 2019. The second will happen in Bristol with the Bristol Gem Fair popping up at the city’s Clifton Rocks on September 5^th, 2019.

“You will be able to view and purchase gemstones on display with the complete assurance of responsible mining and production,” says Nineteen48 founder Stuart Poole, who regularly travels out to the mines that he buys his gems from to ensure proper working conditions. “Details about the source of each gemstone will be available to every customer.”

The gemstones available at The UK Ethical Gem Fair will include a wide range of sapphire, ruby, opal, diamond, tanzanite, tourmaline, zircon, aquamarine and chrysoprase. These gems come from traceable sources in Sri Lanka, Australia, Tanzania, the US and Malawi, as well as other major gem-producing countries.

Both events are free to attend but registration is essential. For tickets and more information, head here for London and here for Bristol.

All loose gems pictured sourced by Nineteen48 or Capricorn Gems; Sapphire, diamond and Fair-trade gold engagement ring (in pink box) by Jessica Flinn; Queensland sapphire ring by Emily Chelsea.